The Marcsmen Christmas

Among the more unexpected takeaways from the Pitch Perfect franchise is the appeal of a cappella groups within a contemporary context. In a city steeped in age-old traditions, it should come as no surprise that San Antonio is home to celebrated outfits like Friends in Harmony and The Marcsmen — competitive ensembles rooted in the decidedly old-fashioned realm of barbershop harmony. Formed by Texas State University music students and now officially established among the ranks of the revered Barbershop Harmony Society, The Marcsmen boast a sprawling membership that includes South Texas vocalists ranging in age from 13 to 70. Currently providing live accompaniment for The Playhouse’s production of Peter Rothstein’s All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (a historical play based on an unlikely exchange between English and German soldiers during World War I), the all-male troupe is set to take center stage with The Marcsmen Christmas, an a cappella holiday program featuring high-profile support from Orlando-based Barbershop Harmony Society International Championship winners Main Street.